FIFA clears Ghana and Nigeria of bribery allegation

The disciplinary committee of FIFA has ruled that an amount of 25,000 dollars offered to officials of Ghana's national team after their world cup qualifying match with Nigeria last July did not constitute bribery and therefore no sanctions can be imposed on the associations.

The disciplinary committee's ruling faxed to the Ghana News Agency stated that it found no evidence that there had been a casual connection between the gifts offered by the Nigerian governor and the outcome of the match in question.

Consequently, it decided that the associations of Ghana and Nigeria did not violate the FIFA statutes and that therefore no sanctions were to be imposed. It is the opinion of FIFA that the gift was offered by an individual, the governor of Rivers State and not an official of the Nigerian association and that the function at which the presentation was open to the public and indeed took place after the match.

FIFA said the presentation of gifts to opposing national teams appears to be part of the local custom and tradition and the money given to the Ghanaian delegation on July 29 does not constitute bribery.

The letter signed by Mr Michel Zen-Ruffin, General Secretary of FIFA however warned the FAs of Ghana and Nigeria that there are considerable ethical problems and legal uncertainties related to such financial gifts and advised them not to accept them in future. The letter was also served on the Nigerian Football Association and the Liberian Football Association who sent the case to FIFA for redress.

The Black Stars lost the match played in the Rivers State capital of Port Harcourt 3-0 and the governor, Peter Odili doled out 25 thousand dollars to the Ghanaian delegation when he hosted both teams at a dinner. He also gave the Nigerian Super Eagles 75 thousand dollars.

The matter generated a lot of controversy in Ghana after an Accra evening newspaper had carried the story. A school of thought called for the resignation of Mr Ben Koufie, chairman of the GFA and Mr Joe Aggrey , Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports who was leader of the delegation.

While the furore was going on the GFA Executive Council met in Accra and absolved Mr Koufie of blame. Liberia played in the same group with Ghana and were actually group leaders before the match and would have qualified if the Black Stars had won or drawn against their Nigerian counterparts.